"Philip Goodwin" <cromer@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:cemdnR89bINy5gzanZ2dnUVZ_s6mnZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> "Steve R." <srhodes13@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
> news:semdnULODfqC_AzanZ2dnUVZ_hGdnZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>
>> What kind of issues have you been hearing about the Futaba FASST
systems?
>> Without knowing any specific complaints, I'd tend to disregard comments
>> about "potential problems." The reason I say that is, I bought a new
9Z
>> synthesized system back around 1995. I still have that radio and it
has
>> worked perfectly for me the entire time I've had it. I heard all the
BS
>> that went around in the beginning, folks calling it a "Dial a Crash,"
but
>> I've never had any problems with mine and have met many others that
>> haven't either.
>>
>> Having said that, I recently bought the TM-14 module and R6014FS
receiver
>> for my 12Z. I had to download the program updates from Futaba so the
12Z
>> would know what to do with the new module and allow it to select
between
>> the two FASST modes available. Once that was done, the conversion
>> process went without a hitch and so far, I've not had any problems with
>> it. Of course, I don't have a lot of time on it yet so I can't speak
to
>> any future problems or long term reliability but to date, it's worked
>> flawlessly. I've also been flying a camera ****p with the 6EX FASST
radio
>> for the past 6 months and we've not had any problems with that system
>> either. So, unless my FASST radio starts upchucking in the near future
>> or I see significant "verified" problems rearing their ugly heads, I'm
>> not giving any credibility to folks saying there's a problem with the
>> Futaba FASST systems. Given my 25+ years of RC flying and having flown
>> nothing but Futaba equipment (with only one exception) in that time, I
>> have no reason to believe my FASST system won't prove to be just as
>> reliable. At least I certainly hope so! ;-)
>
> Steve,
> Check Futaba's website. They have a service advisory out for the 6EX and
> 7C Fast systems. There is an issue with some transmitters being
programmed
> with the same ID code (all zeros) and therefore able to control other
> models.
>
> Phil
Hi Phil,
Thanks! Actually, I found what you're referring to a couple of hours
after
I submitted this post. I hadn't caught it before then. I fired off an
email to Futaba, asking them if they could verify a time frame when the
defective units were released. I haven't gotten a response from them yet
but it's only been about 12 hours so I need to give them more time to
respond. Thankfully, the TM-14 module I've got on my 12Z is not effected
according to Futaba's notice. On the other hand, we're using two 6EX's on
our camera ****ps (one for the helicopter and one for the camera turret)
and
haven't had a single glitch in six months so I seriously doubt that we're
effected but I'd still like to get clarification on that. The note you
point out on Futaba's web site also says they'll be setting up check
stations at select hobby shops around the country to verify if a given
unit
is defective. You can bet I'll be keeping an eye out for any info related
to that! :-)
I know this will be very frustrating for anyone unlucky enough to get
caught
by it but at least Futaba appears to be taking steps to correct the
problem.
The one good thing is, this will only effect someone if two effected units
try to operate at the same time and place. "If" they got spread out
enough
in ****pping distribution, it may not be an issue at all although I
suspect
that someone's already been bit by this or they wouldn't have known about
it. In the mean time, if someone has one of these radios and winds up at
the field with someone else with the same system, it's easy enough to find
out if you're effected. If they are, you just fall back on what we've
always done with folks on the same frequency as we are. We take turns!
It'll be interesting to see how long it takes Futaba to get this all
resolved out!
Fly Safe,
Steve R.
|
